Students are to watch a film, such as Saving Private Ryan, or mini-series, such as HBO’s Generation Kill, that relates to our assigned readings (please see the list below) and then respond to the film or mini-series in writing. This is not a review of the film itself, but how that film relates to our assigned readings. In similar fashion to our weekly discussions, each paper should illustrate the student’s ability to explain their understanding of an historical issue and how it impacted the development of American history as a whole. You should also be able to support and defend your points with evidence and explanation from what you saw. Resources outside the film and our textbook are not required, but each paper should be well thought-out and articulated in writing. The paper should be at least 3-4 pages long and formatted in MLA style. If you are not familiar with MLA style, there are many examples from college websites, such as the Purdue OWL, that can easily be found online. Please don’t forget to include a works cited page, even if your only sources are our textbooks and your selected film or mini-series. If you’d like to select a film not included in the list below, please email me. 100 points. Due by midnight on Wednesday, June 16.
Please read on for more specific information and helpful hints:
- Please use the Modern Language Association (MLA) style of formatting.
- This is not a review of the film itself (“I hated this movie” is not an acceptable inclusion in your paper), but how that film relates to our assigned readings. This paper should provide a critical analysis of why and how a film works (or doesn’t work) in regards to representing history. In similar fashion to the Discussion Board responses, each paper should illustrate the student’s ability to explain their understanding of their selected film(s). What historical event does the film focus on? How does the film relate to that historical issue? How does the film relate to your assigned readings in the textbook? Is the film historically accurate? What liberties does it take with facts in the name of entertainment? What are both the successful and unsuccessful elements of the film(s)? Are there similar films that do a much better job examining the same or similar topic? You should also be able to support and defend your points with evidence and explanation from what you saw.
- It’s okay to select a film you love. There’s no reason this assignment can’t be enjoyable. I sincerely hope it is. However, each paper should be well thought out and fully address the requirements of the assignment. I don’t mind you expressing your appreciation for a film, but keep in mind that 1-3 pages provide precious little space to articulate a film’s effectiveness in exploring an historical event or epoch.
- I trust all of you are clever enough to track down your selected film(s) one way or another. The approved films are far from obscure, so you should be able to find them via Netflix, Amazon, or other streaming service. Your local library might have some of them as well. Due to their association with history, some of these films will be available online for free (try YouTube), although be careful out there on the Internet. Websites not affiliated with education that offer free movies could possibly harm your computer.
- Basic information about the film, other than its title, is unnecessary. Again, you have limited space to demonstrate your understanding of your film. Use this space wisely. The names of directors and actors from every available film are readily available online, so don’t include them in your paper unless they are absolutely necessary to a point you are making.
0 comments